Electric-fixture support



Aug.14,19z8. 1,680,576

W. SYMMES ELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 23, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l4 IN V EN TOR. .PV/w' 0:15 mme:

6.6. I gym ATTORNEYS.

Aug. i4, 1928. 1,680,576

W. SYMMES ELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 23, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D INVENTOR. Wh/ma/v 5 f77/wes BMG/,3J VZW u ATTORNEYS.

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Aug. 14, 1928.

w sYMMEs ELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT `Filed oct. 25, 1922 l Aug. 14, 192s, 1,680,576

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ELECTRIC FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Oct. 23, 1922 4""Sh'e'et's-Sheet 4 y ATTORNEYS.4

. Patented Aug. 14, 192s.

FICE.

WHITMAN snimias, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC-FIXTURE SUPPORT.

Application aied october 2a, 1922. serial No, 596,321.

The invention relates to electric lighting fixture supports and particularly to a support for side brackets or other wall fixtures.

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For some time it has'been considered desirable to provide detachable electric-light ing fixtures, so that fixtures of one design may be readily. replaced by fixtures of another design -and so that a tenant may acquire his owing-'fixtures and' take them with him..iv.henfhe vacates his tenancy. lThese fixture supports should be of such construction that they accommodate themselves to the standard appliances employed for wiring houses and providing outlets and so that the fixtures may be attached and detached by the housewife, without the aid of any tools. They ni'ust further be fool proof and accident Vproof and must conform to the standards and regulations adapted by controlling organizations, such as the National aBoard of Fire Underwriters. rAs far as I am aware, no fixture su port, has as yet been provided which satisfies all of these conditions.

It is an object of the present invention,

therefore, to provide a detachable fixture construction which meets all of these requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable fixture which is simple and sturdy in construction and which may be employed in connection with the various standard forms of outlet boxes or junction boxes employed by electricians.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, `will be set forth at length in the following description, where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming art of the present specification. In said rawings I have shown several embodiments of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the forms shown, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of other forms.

Referring to said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section through a Wall fixture back plate embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through an outlet receptacle embodying the features of my invention. j

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of an outlet box embodyingoneof the features of my invention.

Fig. tis a section taken onl the line 4 4, l

F ig. 2. I,

^ Fig. 5 is a section takenon the line 5--5, Fig.

Fig. of the tions.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through an outlet box provided with the standard plasterv ring and embodying my invention..

Fig. 8 is a vertical section throughI an outlet box provided with a plaster ring of my invention.

Fig. `9 is a side elevation of a bell back plate showing the method of arranging the attaching structure thereon.

Fig. 10 is a -sidevelevationyof a deep bell back plate showingthe niethodof arranging the attaching structure thereon.

Fig 11 is a front elevation of an electrical receptacley plate....whichA may be employed with a plaster ring` of myA invention.

.Fig 12 is afi-ont .elevation of a plaster ring of my invention.-

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of an outletl box provided with a standard plaster ring.

Fig.14`is a front elevation of a receptacle plate adapted to be used box shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the at- 6 is a perspective view ofthe parts attaching structure in separated posi with the outlet taching structure mounted on a bracket 7 back. y

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one form of receptacle plate.

Fig. 17 is a rear view of the receptacle plate showing the receptacle with the cover c removed. y

In accordance with.- my invention I provide a removable bracket lighting fixture which may be attached to the wall rece tacle dentally dislodged by a person moving about or cleaning up the room or manipulating the fixture. The attaching structure is constructed so that the fixture is supported independently of the electrical connections, so that the socket or electrical receptacle and the plug are not subject to any supporting strain. The component parts of the attaching structure are arranged and disposed in such manner that the structure is applicableto the standard outlet boxes now universally employed, so that it may be installed in old houses with the minimum of effort and so that it may be included in new work without requiring the use of special outlet boxes, This feature is of .the greatest importance, since the expense 1nvolv ed in discarding old standards and establishing new standards is a great economic waste which is not tolerable.l Removable lighting fixtures may be proposed, but unless they conform to established standards they are impractical and practically inoperative, since their use would not be tolerated. I have produced a structure which meets all of the requirements and conforms to all of the standard specifications and at the same time is simple, rugged and inexpensive.

The device of my invention comprises two major parts, one of which, constituting the receptacle, is arranged in or secured to the wall of the room or building so that it remains permanently in place. .The other major part constituting the plug is arranged on or secured to the back of the lighting fixture. The receptacle constitutes a support for the fixture and electrical contacts to which the service wires are connected.

The plug constitutes 'a support engaging element and'electric contacts or lingers for engagement 'with the contacts in the receptacle.

Present electrical wiring specifications require the use of a metallic outlet box in the wall, into which the service wires extend.'

vThe electrician in wiring the house, carries his wires into the outlet box and it is the function of the xture hanger to connect these wires to the fixture and hang the xture. Outlet boxes are made in two stand-v ard styles, with and without plaster rings, the boxes provided with laster rings being deeper by the depth of t e rin In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown an outlet box Figs; 7 and 13 I have shown outlet boxes 5 provided with standard plaster rings 6. In Figs. 8 and 12 I have shown ringless outlet boxes 5 to which special, laster rings 7 of my invention are attached), usually by screws 8 passing through slots 9 in the base of the ring and through ears 12 on the peripher of the outlet box. f

Overy ing the wall and covering the opening of the outlet box, is a receptacle plate on which the socket or receptacle is mounted. The shape of the receptacle plate and the means for securing it in place vary with the style of outlet box employed. When a ringless outlet box is employed, such as isshown in Fig. 2, a receptacle plate 13, as shown 1n Figs. 2 and 16 is employed, the plate being shaped to cover the aperture in the wall. The electrical receptacle 14, is mounted substantially centrally on the 5 which` is not provided with a plaster ring and in.

are secured to the back vwall of the outletv box and having forwardly extending spaced legs 17 having flanges 18 on their forward ends which are engaged by screws 19 passing through the plate. The legs 17 are spread apart so that they surround and form a pocket for the receptacle 14, thus permitting the plate and its attached receptacle to be readily attached to the oulet box. The len h of the legs 17 varies in accordance wit the depth of the outlet box and when an outlet box with a standard plaster ring is used, as is shown in Fig. 7, the legs should be longer than when a ringless box is used.

The special plaster ring of my invention, which may be attached to a ringless outlet box, as shown in Fig. 12, or which may form an integral part of a special outlet box, standard in every particular with the exception of the construction of the plaster ring, is constructed in such manner that the receptacle plate may be vreadily attached thereto, thus obviating the use of the chair l5. The plaster ring 7 of my invention is provided with Webs 21, Hush with the outer surface of the ring, which are provided with apertures 22 for the reception of screws 23 passing through the plate. These a ertures may be circular or may be elongate to permit a slight adjustment of the plate with respect to the plaster ring. The plaster ring may be slightly out of true position and by providing for adjustment, the plate may be accurately positioned.

The receptacle plate serves as a support for the applied fixture and for the electrical receptacle. The plate preferably comprises ametallic stamping having a. 4hole or slot 25 punched therein to receive the supporting element on the fixture, the tongue 26 which is cut out in forming the slot being bent back at the angle of the su porting element on the fixture, at the top o the slot to serve as a support for the upper end of the clip 27 which forms a housing to enclose the inserted supporting element. Below the slot, the metal of the plate is bent or'pressed back to form a'substantially cylindrical socket 28 at the base of which the electrical recepl lli) liti - r shoulder 38 'bearin Eet 28, so that itl isirigidly` tacle, `holdin the receptacle firmly in lace. The receptac e4 is provided with agperip eral against the rea-r' edgefof the wall of the soc secured to the late. The receptacleis `also provided -with ongitudinal grooves `39in its porcelain or other velectrical insulating'mwV terial, and projecting rearwardly therefrom,

is a screw 42, over which fits an insulating protecting calp 43, held in place by a nut on the screw.V he cap covers thecontactsin' the receptacle and the-rear end. of the housing to receive the applied supportin element, and prevents the accumulation o dust on the contacts and .obviates thepresence of any exposed contacts. The ca and the rece}ptacle body are rovided with depressions w ich're'gister to orm apertures 44 through which the service wires extend to the contacts inthe receptacle. f v v The bod?y of the receptacle is provided with two e ongated vertical slots behind which are arranged the resilient .contacts 46. Each contactcomprises a resilient metallic clip having a liange on one end which is secured to the receptacle body by a hollow screw 47, in which is seated a headed screw 48, by which the service wire isconnected tothe contact. The other side of the contact clip is free to move as the lcontact blade is inserted or removed, so that tight frictional oontact'is maintained. The movable end of `the contact clip is curled outwardly, as at 49, to facilitate entrance of the contact blade and this curled edge is disposed behind a shoulder 51 at the slde of the slot 45, so that the entering blade is directed into the c-lip l and cannot strike and distort the end of lthe clip. The slots 45 and the contact clips 46 are longer vertically, 'than the vertical dimension of the contact blade, for reasonswhich will hereinafter appear.

The fixture supporting member and the electric connectin plug are carried by the fixture, so that w en the fixture is applied, the circuit to the lamp socket carried by the xture .is completed and when the fixture is removed, the circuit is broken. When the invention is applied to a bracket fixture having a. slightly recessed back 52, as shown in Figs. 1 and 15, a metallic strap or plate 53 is attached to the back by screws 54, the lower ,screw being countersunk so that its head lies 'flush with the surface of the strap.

-At its upper end the strap is provided with an integral downwardly mclined tongue or The weight of the fixture,

-serve to hold the body 57 of the peg 55 which .constitutes theifxture' su portingv element. This tongue fits into-tde slot25 in the receptacle plate and its inclined .position necessitates thatthevfixtu're be...moved inwardly and downwardly as it;`

is applied 'and conversely, asv it' isremoved.-

plate and due to the necessary upward' move ment of the fixture, to effect its removal,ac-

or any applied weight, causes it to seat more firmly-on the cidental dislodgment of the fixture isa `rev similar cross section, a large supporting against rocking. -To further prevent rock .mote possibility. By providing an elongated slot 25 and a supporting tongue of ing of the fixture on the plate andl to relieve the tongue and slot of any rocking strains,

a pair, of lugs 56 are struck frompthe strap 4 A 53 at such position, that they lievwithin-v the` lower lug seat 32 and contact with the side walls thereof. These lugs 56, other than positioning the fixture on the plate, lalso lug in position on the strap. The body'of t e plug is made of some suitable insulating material and'is held to the strap by the, screw linterposed between the luf. .bodfy and the strap is a disc 59,l pre erzivbly ormedoffiber, which is provided with Atwo apertures 61 through which the insulated wires on thefixture extend to the Contact posts 6 2 on the plug.

width than the width of the contact clips of the receptacle so that they may move vertically in' the contact clips as the fixture is lich the contact `post-sare seated. The blades are of less This disc holds e the wires down against the'bracket back so that they cannot get in the way of other arts, when the fixapplied and removed, the vertical movement being one of the component movements ofthe inclined movement of the fixture.

Many lighting fixture bracket back plates are not formed with slightly receed backs to which the stra 53 may be directly attached, and when suc fixtures are used, auxiliary means must be employed for attaching the strap to the fixture. In Figs. 9 and l0 I have Ashown brackets lhaving back plates formed of bells or canopies provided with means `for attaching the straps in place.

The canopy 67, shown in Fig. 9 is provided with an annular portion 68 having a surface lying in a plane substantially perpendicw lar to the axis of the canopy. Secured to the canopy, by screws passing through said annular portion, and disposed within the canopy is a diametrically disposed vertical bar 69 to which the strap 53 is attached, the bar 69 being positioned so that the plug is properly disposed with respect to the rear edge of the canopy. In Fig. 10 I have shown a fixture embodying a slip canopy 71 to which it is not feasible to attach the strap. The fixture comprises a tube 72 on which the canopy is arranged. Disposed within the tube 72 and held in place therein, as by a screw knob such -as is shown in Fig. 9, is a short tube 73, to the rear end of which is screwed a fitting or bracket 74, to which the strap 53 is secured.

I claim 1. A detachable electric lighting fixture adapted to be applied to a receptacle plate having a recess therein and an aperture above the recess and having a Areceptacle secured to the plate and disposed behind the recess, comprising a lighting fixture bracket having a back, a plug secured to saidl back and projectin therefrom, projecting lugs adjacent the p ug, said plug and lugs adapted to engage said recess and a projecting tongue on the back adapted to engage in said aperture.

2. A detachable electric lighting fixture adapted to be applied to a receptacle plate having an aperture and a recess spaced from the aperture, comprisin a lighting fixture, a strap secured to said xture, a projecting tongue and projecting lugs integral with said strap and a plug secured to the strap, said tongue being arranged to seat in the aperture and said plug and lugs being arranged to seat in the recess.

3. A detachable electric lighting fixture adapted to be applied to a receptacle plate having an aperture and a recess spaced from the aperture, comprising; lighting xture, a strap secured to said ture, a projecting tongue and projecting lugs integral with said strap, a plug secured to said strap, an

extension on said plug disposed between said lugs, said tongue being arranged to seat in the aperture and said lug and lugs and cxtension being arrangedJ to seat in the recess.

4. A detachable electric lighting fixture adapted to be .applied to a receptacle plate having an aperture and a recess spaced from the aperture, comprising a lighting fixture, a strap secured to said fixture, an integral, downwardly inclined tongue on said strap, integral lugs on said strap and a plu secured to said strap and en aging said lugs said tongue bein arranged to seat in said aperture and sai lu and plug being arranged to seat in sai recess.

5. The combination, in a detachable 'electric lighting fixture, of a lighting fixture, a strap secured thereto, an integral tongue on said strap, integral lugs on said strap, a plug secured to said strap and engaging said lugs and a disc interposed between the plug and the strap provided with apertures through which the fixture wires are passed.

6. The combination with a .lighting fixture, of a strap secured thereto, said strap being bent downward at its upper end to form an inclined projecting tongue, lugs on said strap, a plug attached to said strap and an extension on said plug disposed between said lugs. i

7 The combination with a li hting fixture, of a strap secured thereto, a ownwardly inclined projecting tongue at the upper end of said strap, a plug secured to said strap below said tongue, a projection on said plug, upwardly inclined lugs extending from said strap on opposite sides of said projection and contact blades extending from said plug.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WHITMAN SYMMES. 

